Watch SE – mattjfuller.com

The Apple Watch SE Generation 2 was released along side of the Apple Watch Series 8 on September 7, 2022, and was described by Apple: “The redesigned Apple Watch SE delivers the core Apple Watch experience at a new starting price.” Apple positioned the SE Generation 2 as:

“…a great way for users to start their Apple Watch journey, use with Family Setup, or gift to their loved ones. Powerful upgrades include the S8 SiP advanced dual-core processor, the same processor that is in Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Ultra, making it 20 percent faster than the previous generation, along with Crash Detection and international roaming.”

Notably, the Apple Watch SE Generation 2 used a back case made of a nylon composite material that made the Watch lighter, but arguably decreased the durability offered by the ceramic backs of the other models. While the Series 8 case sizes of the time increased to 45 mm and 41 mm, the Apple Watch SE Generation 2 remained at 44 mm and 40 mm.

While the Series 8 used an Always-on Retina display, the SE Generation 2 retained a Retina display that showed only when you looked at your wrist. Although the SE Generation 2 lacked the ability to run the ECG app, it had many of the same features of the Series 8 and even used the same S8 processor. The Vitals app on the SE Generation 2 included heart rate, respiratory rate, and sleep duration, but lacked wrist temperature and blood oxygen sensors. The SE Generation 2 included Emergency SOS, international emergency calling, fall detection, crash detection, water resistance up to 50 m, Siri, Find My, and the same 18-hour battery life ast the Series 8.

The Apple Watch SE Generation 2 (GPS) was available only in Aluminum and in three colors, Midnight, Starlight, and Silver. The 44 mm size measured 44 mm x 38 mm x 10.7 mm and weighed 32.9 g; while the 40 mm size measured 40 mm x 34 mm x 10.7 mm and weighed 26.4 g. The screen sizes were 368 x 448 pixels (977 square mm display area) for the 44 mm option and 324 x 394 pixels (759 square mm display area) for the 40 mm option.

This Apple Watch SE Generation 2 example is a silver GPS model and shipped with a Winter Blue Sport Band.

Sources: Apple (Newsroom, compare, specifications), Wikipedia

The Apple Watch SE was announced on September 15, 2020, as an entry-level Apple Watch that lacked some of the features of the Series 6. According to Apple, the Apple Watch SE offered:

“Powerful features to help keep you connected, active, healthy, and safe. Advanced sensors to track all the ways you move and to measure your favorite workouts. And available cellular so you can go without your phone. Apple Watch SE is a lot of watch for a lot less than you expected.”

The Apple Watch SE shared several features with the Apple Watch Series 6, including, “the same accelerometer, gyroscope, and always-on altimeter…and with the latest motion sensors and microphone, it offers robust health and safety capabilities including fall detection, Emergency SOS, international emergency calling, and the Noise app.”

Because the Apple Watch SE replaced the Apple Watch 3, the previous entry-level Apple Watch of the time, several comparisons were offered:

“Apple Watch SE features a stunning Retina display, with thin borders and curved corners, that is 30 percent larger than Series 3… With the S5 System in Package (SiP) and dual-core processor, Apple Watch SE delivers incredibly fast performance, up to two times faster than Apple Watch Series 3.”

The Apple Watch SE lacked ECG (electrocardiogram) and Blood Oxygen sensors, and it did not use an always-on display watch face.

This 44mm example is the GPS model (without cellular), has a silver aluminum case, and shipped with an Abyss Blue (dark blue) Sport Band.

Sources: Apple (product page, Newsroom)